The proposed Non-Executive Directors have been announced, should the merger of Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (PH) and The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (RBCH) be approved.

The two hospital trusts are currently working on a business plan for merger. Proposed appointments to the Board are made to support the planning process and ensure a smooth transition of responsibility if the merger proceeds.

The Non-Executive Directors (NED) are announced as:

•David Bennett: currently a NED at RBCH

•Pankaj Davé: currently a NED at RBCH

•Michael Mitchell: currently a NED at PH

•Steven Peacock: currently a NED at RBCH

•Alex Pike: currently a NED at RBCH

•Angela Schofield: currently Chairman at PH

•Nick Ziebland: currently a NED at PH The Non-Executive Directors will formally take up their role if the merger application is successful and the new organisation is licensed by Monitor, the regulator of foundation trusts. Their appointment will also need to be approved by the Council of Governors of the new merged organisation, should the merger be approved.

To ensure an independent process, the nomination panels included a foundation trust Chairman as an external assessor. The appointments were made by the nominations panel comprising the proposed Chairman, Jane Stichbury, who was appointed earlier in May, and an equal number of the current Governors from both foundation trusts.

The proposed Chairman and Non-Executive Directors will now appoint the proposed Chief Executive for the merged organisation. Appointment of the proposed Executive Directors will follow.

The Trusts remain separate legal entities until the date of the licenced merger. Each Board of Directors retains complete legal responsibility for their organisation until this time. On this date, the proposed Board of Directors will take responsibility for the new merged organisation.